Should I buy a 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with documented airbags problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented airbags issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags problems

severe Owners of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,100

airbags complaints on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, by model year
Model year	airbags complaints
2011 E-Class	137
2012 E-Class	91
2013 E-Class	55
2014 E-Class	54
2015 E-Class (this page)	11
2016 E-Class	28
2017 E-Class	19
2019 E-Class	3

1crash

What stands out

Airbags accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.

No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

The failure pattern owners describe

The bulk of these complaints—nine of eleven—involve Takata airbag recalls (NHTSA campaigns 17V627000 and 19V010000) where owners received recall notices but parts never arrived. Multiple dealers confirmed components were unavailable, and the manufacturer either couldn't commit to a timeline or told owners to expect fixes in 2020 or later. In one case, Mercedes-Benz USA told an owner the decision rested with NHTSA, not them.

One owner experienced an actual safety failure: at 11,000 miles, his E63 struck the rear of another vehicle at 55 mph. The airbags didn't deploy, and the pre-safe braking and active cruise control also failed to engage. He filed a police report with no injuries and tried dealer and independent shop routes without resolution.

A single complaint mentioned a panoramic sunroof with loose bonding that caused severe noise and possible frame/airbag interference, though this appears to be a structural issue rather than an airbag system defect per se. No other narratives describe actual airbag malfunctions beyond the deployment failure and the parts-shortage limbo.

Same Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017

Failure modes owners describe

Takata airbag inflator recall parts shortage

NHTSA campaigns 17V627000 and 19V010000 (Takata airbag inflators) issued recall notices, but repair parts remained unavailable for extended periods. Owners reported dealers unable to order parts, manufacturer unable to confirm availability timelines, and in some cases delays stretching into 2020 or remaining unresolved years after recall notification.

When: Recall notifications received 2017-2019; unresolved at time of complaint filing

Symptoms owners cite: Unable to obtain recall repair parts; Dealer unable to schedule or complete recall work; Manufacturer unable to confirm parts availability timeline

Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 17V627000, NHTSA Campaign 19V010000

Repairs/costs cited: Dealers (Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington, Edison, Chandler, Grapevine, Cincinnati, and others) confirmed parts unavailable; some owners reported manufacturer stated parts would be available in May 2020 or 2020 unspecified

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 17V627000 and 19V010000; Manufacturer made aware of parts shortage in multiple cases; in one case (complaint #11) Mercedes-Benz USA stated the matter was with NHTSA and not within their control

Airbag non-deployment in crash

One owner reported a crash at 55 mph where airbags failed to deploy. The same vehicle was equipped with Distronic Plus active cruise control and pre-safe braking, neither of which functioned during the collision, raising questions about overall safety system integrity.

When: Approximately 11,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy during rear-end collision at 55 mph; Pre-safe braking system did not activate; Active cruise control did not function as intended

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to independent mechanic but not repaired

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure

Possible airbag interference from panoramic sunroof installation defect

One complaint alleged that loose bonding and bolts on the panoramic sunroof caused severe cracking and clanking noise due to glass shifting. The owner stated this could cause frame and airbag damage and potentially interfere with airbag deployment, though no actual airbag failure was reported in this narrative.

When: Not specified

Symptoms owners cite: Constant cracking and clanking sounds from panoramic sunroof; Sunroof glass shifting; Water leaks reported as possible

Repairs/costs cited: Mercedes mechanic noted it was the worst case noise heard in any Mercedes; same year/model reportedly recalled at other plants

Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

airbags · filed 08/09/2019

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-benz e350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags). Mercedes-benz of cincinnati (located at 8727 montgomery rd, cincinnati, oh 45236, (513) 984-9000) stated that the part was not available. The contact felt that the dealer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was…

Had airbags trouble with your 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the airbags problem on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.

At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?

Based on the 11 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 11,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to airbags?

No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.